(Peru, Neb.) – Although they closed the gap to just three at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Peru State women's basketball team dropped a conference game to Graceland Tuesday night.
 
The visiting Yellowjackets outscored the 'Cats 9-2 after that point in the fourth quarter and went on to win 77-67 in Peru.
 
Graceland improved to 8-1 overall and 2-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) while the Bobcats fell to 1-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play.
 
First Quarter Action
 
Alyssa Marsh-Contreras (Bellevue) put the 'Cats on the board first with a bucket in the paint with just 18 seconds off the clock. Graceland would score the next eight points and never trailed during the rest of the contest.

 
The Yellowjackets' largest lead came at 17-9 with 5:17 remaining in the first ten minutes. Another bucket by Marsh-Contreras, followed by a pair of Claire Cudney (Marysville, Mo.) free throws cut the deficit to 17-13. Cudney would then score a bucket off a steal by Giovanna Silva (Brazilia, Brazil) and suddenly the 'Cats were down two with 3:00 left on the clock.
 
Graceland would end the quarter leading 23-19.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
A Silva bucket off an assist from Allison Tichy (Bellevue) pulled the 'Cats within two at 23-21 to start the second frame.
 
Every time the Bobcats would get close, the Yellowjackets would respond. Eventually Graceland led by ten at 37-27 with 2:46 left in the first half.
 
A bucket by Marsh-Contreras was followed by Cudney making one of two free throws to make the score 37-30 with 54 ticks left in the first 20 minutes.
 
Again, Graceland would respond and would stretch their lead to 11 at halftime by leading 41-30.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Graceland would stretch its lead to 15 on two different occasions in the third quarter with the last being 53-38. A bucket by Swaranga Fernando (Colombo, Sri Lanka) off an assist from Marsh-Contreras stopped another Yellowjacket run.
 
Marsh-Contreras followed with a three-pointer to make it 53-43 with 2:17 on the clock. After the 'Jackets led 56-45, Anjanea Simms (St. Louis, Mo.) hit a bucket to cut the deficit to single digits.

The quarter would end after Silva pulled Peru State within seven at 56-49.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Marsh-Contreras would dish off to Silva to start the quarter for a bucket to pull Peru State within five at 56-51. After Daspin Bruning (Everest, Kan.) grabbed an offensive rebound, Marsh-Contreras would get a hoop and suddenly the 'Cats only trailed by three at 56-53 with 8:48 remaining in the game.
 
A 9-2 run by Graceland put them back up by ten forcing the Bobcats to play from behind the rest of the way.
 
A trey by Marsh-Contreras right before the buzzer sounded cut the Yellowjackets' winning margin to ten.

GRACELAND GAME BOOK

 
Team Statistics
 
Graceland shot better from the floor than the 'Cats as they connected on 27 of 59 field goals for 45.8% which included making 10 of 23 from long range for 43.5%. At the free throw line, the Yellowjackets made 13 of 22 for 59.1%. Peru State made 26 of 65 field goal tries for 40%, but were cooler from behind the arc hitting just 4 of 18 for 22.2%. At the charity stripe, the Bobcats made 11 of 16 for 68.8%.
 
The Bobcats did out-rebound Graceland 34 to 31. The Yellowjackets nearly doubled up the assists on the 'Cats 19 to ten.
 
Both teams had some trouble handling the ball as Graceland finished with 17 turnovers while the Bobcats had one more miscue.
 
Peru State blocked two shots and grabbed eight steals while Graceland finished with 12 steals.
 
Peru Player Statistics
 
Marsh-Contreras finished with a team-high 22 points on 8 of 15 shooting. Silva added 14 points with Cudney and Simms each finishing with eight.
 
Cudney had a game-high nine rebounds while Silva added six. Marsh-Contreras dished out four assists with Cudney handing out two.
 
Silva and Simms each were credited with a blocked shot. Silva had three steals to lead the team while Bruning and Cudney each nabbing two.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will be playing an exhibition game Thursday night in Kansas City, Mo., when they take on NCAA DI University of Missouri-Kansas City. The Kangaroos have started the season with five straight losses after winning an exhibition.
 
On Saturday, Dec. 1, the Bobcats will be in Springfield, Mo., facing Evangel at 2 p.m. The Crusaders are presently 6-2 on the year and are 1-2 in the Heart.
 
The Grand View Vikings will be Peru State's next opponent on Tuesday, Dec. 4, in Des Moines at 5:30 p.m. The Vikings are 2-3 on the season and are 1-2 in conference action.